Grapefruit-shield



A. K-. GEORGE. GRAPEFRUIT SHIELD.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1920.

1 72,224, Patented Mar. 22; 1921.

lNVENTOk fli /"ed. K6 60/ 96 ATTORN EY UNITED sures ALFRED K. (in ones, on DAYTON, omo, ASSIGNOR or ownrIALr T0 SIDNEY v.

BURROWS, OI DAYTON, OHIO.

GRAPEFRUIT-SHIELI).

Specification of Letters Patent. P t t d p 2 1921 Application filed. November 22, 1920. Serial No. 425,724.

To all whom it may concern.

semi-spherical portion. of a grape-fruit or an orange, to prevent the juice from flying into the face, or upon the clothing, ot a person when he or she forces a spoon into 1t.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved grapefruit shield. Fig. 2 is a side elevatlonal view of the latter. And Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the same.

Throughout the specification and drawings, similar reference characters denote corresponding parts. j

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numerals 1, 2 and 3 respectively deslgnate three sections of a metallic band or ring that is adapted to surround the semispherical portion of a grape-irult or orange below its top marginal edge. Each sectlon of the band is turned over at its top, to rest upon the top marginal edge of said grape-fruit or orange portion.

' The sections 1, 2 and 3 of the band are adjustably secured together as follows. In

one end of the turned-over portion of each section of the hand, there is provided a slot 4; through which projects the shank of a flatheaded stud 5. on whose inner end there .18 fixedly secured a collar 6 larger than. said slot. The studs 5 have a longitudinal moyement through the slots i to adjust the size of the band to that of the grape-fruit portion to which it is to be applied. Laterally projecting teeth 7 are formed on, the lower edge of the hand, to penetrate the skin or shell of the grape-fruit a sufficient distance to hold the band firmly theron. (See: Fig. 3.)

Suitably secured to the inner surface of the section 1. of the band, is an inwardly and upwardly projecting rib 8. To the inner end of the latter here is loosely secured, by

means oi a pivot 9, a preferably fan-shaped shield 10, which has a horizontal rotary movement over the top of the semispherical portion oi the gram-fruit. One radial edge of said shield is turned up atits middle to term a canopy portion 11 under which a spoon 1s adapted to be forced into the juicy portion of the grape-fruit or orange to which the band is applied.

When the spoon enters the grape-fruit or orange under the shield 10, the latter will prevent any of the juice from squirting into the face of the person eating it. Now when the pulp is taken from the cavity portion of the fruit under the shield, the latter may be readily moved over the next cavity to shield the eater from any juice thatmay be forced upwardly from it, this operation belng repeated until all of the pulp is removed from the fruit.

The device may be constructed of any suitable material, and the band may be made up of any number of sections desired. The shield 10 may also be formed in any suitable shape, and is secured to the rib 8 1n such a manner that it may be rotated freely to any desired position when touched by a spoon.

Having described my inventiomI claim:

1. In a device of the type described, the combination with an element adapted to be applied to the top of a portion of a grape fruit or orange, and a shield adjustably secured to said element for movement over the top of said grape-fruit or orange portion,

:lor the purpose specified.

A device of the type described for application to the top of a semi-spherical. portion of: a grape fruit, consisting of an annular element adapted to surround the top marginal edge part of said grape-fruit portion, a radial member secured to said annular element, over the top of said grape-fruit portion, and a shield pivotally secured to said radial member for a rotary movement in a horizontal plane over the top of said grape-fruit portion, for the purpose specilied.

3. A device of the type described for application to the top of a semi-spherical portion of a grape-fruit, consisting of an expansible, sectional band adapted to be applied to the top marginal edge part of said grape-fruit portion, teeth on said band adapted to engage the skin of said grapefruit portion, a radial rib secured to said band for projection over the top of said grapefruit portion, and a fen-shaped shield pivotally secured to the inner end of said rib for a rotary movement in a horizontal plane over the top of said grape-fruit por- 10 tion, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of November, 1920.

ALFRED K. GEORGE. Witness:

HOWARD S. SMITH. 

